Compressor housing

ABSTRACT

A compressor housing is formed with a mounting plate in the annular space of the compressor can, the mounting plate providing for attachment of the compressor pump. Through use of the mounting plate, in place of older methods of mounting the functioning parts of a compressor, the compressor cost is lower, the compressor is easier to assemble, and there is more assurance of a proper alignment of the parts.

United States Patent Gamache et al.

COMPRESSOR HOUSING Inventors: Ernest A. Gamache, West Caldwell,

N..l.; Milton M. Kosfeld, Louisville, Ky.

Assignee: Fedders Corporation, Edison, NJ.

Filed: May 24, 1973 Appl. No.: 363,491

US. Cl. 417/410 Int. Cl. F04b 35/04 Field of Search 417/902, 410; 310/90 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Rinehart 417/902 Rinehart 417/410 Nov. 26, 1974 3,514,225 5/1970 Monden 417/902 3,518,471 6/1970 Wightman 310/90 3,544,240 12/1970 Rundell 310/90 Primary Examiner-William L. Freeh Attorney, Agent, or FirmRyder, McAulay, Fields, Fisher & Goldstein [57] ABSTRACT A compressor housing is formed with a mounting plate in the annular space of the compressor can, the mounting plate providing for attachment of the compressor pump. Through use of the mounting plate, in place of older methods of mounting the functioning parts of a compressor, the compressor cost is lower,

the compressor is easier to assemble, and there is more assurance of a proper alignment of the parts.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTE SUV 2 8 I974 3.850.551 sum 20F 2 1 COMPRESSOR HOUSING Field of Invention This Invention relates to gas compressors. In a preferred form, it relates to rotary compressors, especially stationary-vane rotary compressors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In manufacturing a compressor, particularly a rotary compressor, it is especially important that the compressor pump and the motor be properly aligned. If the proper alignment is not achieved, then motor efficiency is significantly reduced. Misalignment may, in fact, result in total nonoperation of the compressor.

Various solutions have been attempted by the prior art for proper mounting of the motor and pump within the compressor housing. While these various methods have achieved more or less success, they have been costly from the standpoint of equipment involved for assembly and the labor required for proper assembly.

Even more importantly, improper alignment of the compressor components according to the methods of the prior art required a costly rework procedure as the entire machine had to be torn down to correct any misalignment. Frequently, according to the prior art methods correction of misalignment was not possible, and parts of the compressor had to be scrapped. Obviously, this also resulted in a significantly higher cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, proper alignment of the pump and motor of a compressor within the compressor housing, which insures the proper motor air gap for efficient functioning of the compressor, is achieved at lower cost through placement of a mounting plate for the pump within the compressor housing. Specifically, a circular plate is welded or otherwise attached within the case of a compressor housing at the proper position for attachment of the compressor pump to one side of the plate and insertion of the motor stator on the opposite side of the plate. Prior to insertion of either the motor or the pump, the mounting plate can be properly machined to make certain that it is perpendicular to the walls of the case. So long as the mounting plate is perpendicular to these walls, both the motor and compressor pump can be made to have proper alignment with the case of the housing and the proper air gap of the motor rotor and stator can be achieved.

After machining of the mounting plate to make certain that it is perpendicular to the walls of the case, at

least on the pump side, the compressor housing can be expanded, as by heating, and the motor stator inserted into the housing on the proper side of the mounting plate. Upon cooling, the housing will shrink about the motor to hold it in place in proper alignment.

The pump is then inserted from the opposite side of the case and is attached, as by bolts, into bolt holes provided in the mounting plate. The motor rotor is then shrunk onto the pump shaft and the pump is moved the slight amount necessary to align the pump shaft and motor rotor with the motor stator. When this alignment has been achieved, the pump may be firmly abtached to the mounting plate, thus providing proper alignment of the housing case, motor stator, and compressor pump and motor rotor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, in section, of a compressor constructed according to the present invention with a mounting plate to which the compressor pump is attached; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the accompanying darwings, a rotary compressor 1 is illustrated including a cannular housing member 2 with an upper end member 3 and a lower end member 4. After assembly of the motor and pump within the cannular member 2, end members 3 and 4 are welded in place. Located within the cannular member are a mounting plate 5 to which is attached the compressor pump 6, and the compressor motor 7.

Attached to the outside of the casing is an electrical connector 10 for the compressor, the connector being surrounded by a protective fence 11. Further, three mounting lugs 12 are attached for mounting of the compressor within the equipment in which it is to be used, as in a room air conditioner. The inlet for gas to be compressed is shown at 13 and the outlet for the compressed fluid at 14.

The compressor pump includes a number of generally standard parts including the casing 20 which includes flanges 21 and 22 and a cylinder 23. The operating parts of the compressor pump include the shaft 24, roller 25, and sliding vane 26, the latter being urged into contact with the roller via springs 27, 27. The various parts of the compressor pump are held together, inter alia, by bolts 28. It should be recognized that these particular bolts are employed in joining the various parts of the compressor pump to each other, and not in mounting the compressor pump within the compressor housing.

Mounting of the compressor pump within the compressor housing is accomplished through attachment means, such as male threaded members 30 which, as illustrated, mate with female threaded members 31 attached to mounting plate 5, to firmly affix the pump body to the compressor housing in proper alignment.

As previously explained, in part, the mounting plate 5 is attached within the casing 2 by suitable means, such as by arc welding. In inserting the mounting plate, end members 3 and 4 have not yet been attached. The mounting plate is aligned, as well as possible, during welding in such a manner that it is perpendicular to the walls of the casing 2. However, to make certain of the proper laignment, the mounting plate may be machined on the pump side, as by grinding away any high spots which would render the mounting plate not perpendicular to the walls of the casing.

Subsequent to machining of the mounting plate, the casing, with the mounting plate, is heated in a suitable manner and motor stator 7 is placed within the casing. Upon cooling, the walls of the casing 2 shrink about motor stator 7 so as to hold it firmly in place.

Subsequent to installation of stator 7, the total assembly is turned over to allow for insertion of compressor pump assembly 6, including shaft 24. This shaft must be properly aligned within stator assembly 7. As the pump assembly is attached directly to the mounting plate, and

rests on it, proper axial alignment of the pump with the motor stator assembly is assured. However, some adjustment for concentricity must be made and to allow for this, some slight play is preferably left around attaching means 30.

After the pump has been inserted into the casing, the pump shaft 24 is aligned with the motor stator 7 to assure proper concentricity of the shaft and the stator. While holding this alignment, the attachment means 30 are fully torqued in order to hold the concentricity. The motor rotor is then shrunk onto the shaft 24 and the concentricity of the rotor and stator are checked. Any minor adjustment which may be necessary is done at this time. The minor adjustment is accomplished by loosening attachment means 30 and slightly shifting the pump assembly 6 with the attached rotor 40 so as to effect the desired concentricity of the rotor 40 and stator 41. The ability to effect this minor adjustment, before the total completion of compressor assembly, results in significant savings in that fully assembled compressors are not lost, the savings being in both material and labor.

The structure shown provides for better alignment of the various parts of the compressor and also allows for construction of a lower cost and lower weight compressor, as indicated. The better alignment is accomplished through use of the mounting plate which is placed in the casing of the compressor in such a way as to insure proper alignment of the remaining compressor parts. It is this mounting plate which also provides in savings through prevention of improperly aligned compressors which must be discarded. The easier assembly of the compressor parts is accomplished without significant labor or extremely close controls. This does not mean, as previously explained, that the compressor is not assembled with care toward proper part alignment, but merely that the part alignment is achieved with greater ease. Further, because of the manner in which the compressor pump body is attached to the compressor housing, it can be significantly smaller than pump bodies of the prior art. As alignment is achieved through attachment of the pump body to the mounting plate, the pump body need not essentially fill the cavity in the housing and thus there is a great savings in metal, resulting not only in lower cost of materials, but in a savings of weight of the overall pump and compressor.

Thus, in accordance with the present invention, a compressor housing has been illustrated which provides better alignment of the operating parts of the compressor, and thus greater efficiency, a more facile method of assembly, and a lower cost through savings of labor and material.

The invention should not be considered as limited to the configuration specifically illustrated and described, but only as limited by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A rotary compressor including:

a. a cannular housing member;

b. a mounting plate affixed within said cannular member and perpendicular to the walls of said cannular member;

c. means on said mounting plate for attaching the compressor pump;

d. a motor stator assembly held within said cannular member, on one side of said mounting plate, by the walls of said cannular member;

e. a compressor pump within said cannular member, on the side of said mounting plate opposite said motor stator assembly;

f. a motor rotor assembly attached to the shaft of said Pump;

g. attachment means for securing said pump body to said mounting plate through said means on said mounting plate; and

h. means for aligning the motor rotor and motor stator in said pump body' 2. The compressor of claim 1 having, in addition, end members attached to said cannular member, one covering said motor stator assembly and the other covering said pump.

3. The compressor of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprise male threaded members which fit through openings provided in said compressor pump body and mate with female threaded members provided on said mounting plate. 

1. A rotary compressor including: a. a cannular housing member; b. a mounting plate affixed within said cannular member and perpendicular to the walls of said cannular member; c. means on said mounting plate for attaching the compressor pump; d. a motor stator assembly held within said cannular member, on one side of said mounting plate, by the walls of said cannular member; e. a compressor pump within said cannular member, on the side of said mounting plate opposite said motor stator assembly; f. a motor rotor assembly attached to the shaft of said pump; g. attachment means for securing said pump body to said mounting plate through said means on said mounting plate; and h. means for aligning the motor rotor and motor stator in said pump body.
 2. The compressor of claim 1 having, in addition, end members attached to said cannular member, one covering said motor stator assembly and the other covering said pump.
 3. The compressor of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprise male threaded members which fit through openings provided in said compressor pump body and mate with female threaded members provided on said mounting plate. 